Suruli Rajan

Suruli Rajan
Born	Sankaralingam Ponnaiya Pillai (1938-01-14)14 January 1938 Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu, India
Died	5 December 1980(1980-12-05) (aged 42)
Occupation	Actor, comedian, singer
Years active	1965–1980
Spouse(s)	Muthulakshmi
Children	Shanmugavel, Kumaravel, Senthilvel

Suruli Rajan was a Tamil film comedian/character artiste. He was a recipient of Tamil Nadu State Government's Best Comedian Award for the year 1981–82.

Biography

Suruli Rajan was born in 1938 in Periyakulam, near Theni. His father Ponniah Pillai worked as an accountant for farm owners of the adjoining areas in Theni. The child was named after the Suruli Velappar, the family deity at the temple atop a hill graced by the picturesque Suruli Falls.

Suruli Rajan lost his parents one after the other, and had to discontinue his schooling. He moved to his brother's house in Madurai and worked as an apprentice mechanic in a neighbourhood workshop.^[1] Bitten by the acting bug, he acted in several amateur stage plays in Madurai before moving to Madras in 1959 in search of greener pastures.

In spite of his passion for acting opportunities were few and far between. A sudden spate of opportunities in stage plays filled him with heartening optimism. He worked with various drama troupes, including those of O.A.K.Devar, pisir Ramarao, T.N. Balu and in Karunanidhi's 'kagithapoo' staged in aid of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party's election fund. It was filmmaker Joseph Thaliayath of The Citadel Film Corporation Pvt. Ltd who brought Suruli Rajan to cinema, first in a brief appearance in Iravum Pagalum in 1965 and soon after in a more noticeable comic role in Kaadhal paduthum paadu the year following.^[2]

His friendship with T.N. Balu earned him memorable roles in blockbusters by T.R.Ramanna like naan and MoondRezhuthu. Despite his young age Suruli Rajan was offered older roles in many of his early movies. Two other significant roles in his early years were the Madras Tamil spewing cameo in APN's Thirumalai thenkumari (1970) and that of the devout fisherman in Aadhi parasakthi (1971). With his unique intonation and a flair for the absurd, Surulirajan rose to popularity in the late 70s.

Though at times bordering on the bawdy, he seldom failed to elicit a laugh. Suruli's brilliant portrayal of a niggardly rustic in M.A.Khaja's Maanthoppu Kiliye (1979) fetched him rare plaudits and has earned a place of pride in the annals of the immortal comedy sequences of Tamil cinema. 'It never rains, but pours' they say, and Suruli's capers had become a mandatory inclusion in most movies of the time. He created a record by acting in not less than 50 movies in a single year in 1980.^[3]

His career was cut short due to his untimely death in 1980 while he was in the peak of his career.^[4]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role
1966	Andru Kanda Mugam	Constable
1969	Naangu Killadigal	Baba
1970	Thirumalai Thenkumari	Mannaru
1976	Akka
	Badrakali
	Inspector Manaivi
	Janaki Sabatham
	Kumara Vijayam
	Madhana Maaligai
	Mayor Meenakshi
	Mittai Mummi
	Nee Indri Naan Illai
	Ore Thanthai
	Thunive Thunai
	Ungalil Oruthi
	Uravaadum Nenjam
	Vazhvu En Pakkam
1977	Aaru Pushpangal
	Aattukkara Alamelu
	Annan Oru Koil
	Annan Oru Koil
	Deepam
	Durga Devi
	Gasslight Mangamma
	Ilaya Thalaimurai
	Madhura Geetham
	Munnooru Naal
	Nee Vazha Vendum
	Odi Vilayadu Thatha
	Oli Mayamana Ethirkalam
	Oruvanukku Oruthi
	Palaabhishekam
	Perumaikuriyaval
	Raasi Nalla Raasi
	Sonnathai Seiven
	Sonthamadi Nee Enakku
	Thoondil Meen
1978	Aayiram Jenmangal
	Aghni Pravesam
	Anna Lakshmi
	Athaivida Rahasiyam
	Aval Thantha Uravu
	Bairavi
	Chittuk Kuruvi
	En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
	Ival Oru Seethai
	Kannamoochi
	Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandai
	Karate Kamala
	Machanai Patheengala
	Makkal Kural
	Manitharil Ithanai Nirangala
	Meenatshi Kunkumam
	Mela Thalangal
	Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam
	Panchamurtham
	Pavathin Sambalam
	Rajavukku Etha Rani
	Rudra Thandavam
	Sakkaipodu Podu Raja
	Sankar Saleem Siman
	Sonnadhu Needhana
	Taxi Driver
	Thai Meedhu Sathiyan
	Thirukkalyanam
	Thirupura Sundari
	Unakkum Vaazhvu Varum
1979	Annai Oru Alayam
	Appothey Sonneyney Keetiya
	Dharma Yuddham
	Ennadi Meenakshi
	Kadavul Amaitha Medai
	Kamasasthiram
	Kizhakkum Merkkum Santhikkindrana
	Lakshmi
	Manthoppu Kiliye
	Mudal Iravu
	Mugathil Mugam Parkalam
	Naanoru Kai Paarkiren
	Nangooram
	Neechal Kulam
	Needhikkumun Neeya Naana
	Neeya
	Oru Vidukathai Oru Thodardathai
	Paathai Maarinal
	Pagalil Oru Iravu
	Pancha Bootham
	Poonthalir
	Raja Rajeswari
	Siri Siri Maamaa
	Sithira Chevvanam
	Sri Ramajayam
	Thayillamal Naanillai
	Veettukku Veedu Vasappadi
	Yaarukku Yaar Kaval
1980	Anbukku Naan Adimai
	Antharangam Oomayanathu
	Azhaitthal Varuven
	Bambai Mail 109
	Deiveega Rahangal
	Edhir Veettu Jannal
	Ellam Un Kairasi
	Enga Vathiyar
	Enga Vathiyar
	Geetha Oru Shenbaga Poo
	Jony
	Kaadu
	Kaali
	Kadhal Kadhal Kadhal
	Kalam Bathil Sollum
	Karadi
	Karumbu Vill
	Kathal Kiligal
	Kumarip Pennin Ulathile
	Kuruvik Koodu
	Malargindra Paruvathile
	Meenakshi
	Megathukkum Thagamundu
	Murattuk Kalai
	Muzhu Nilavu
	Naan Potta Saval
	Neer Nilam Neruppu
	Oli Pirandhadhu
	Ore Mutham
	Oru Marathu Paravaigal
	Panam Penn Pasam
	Paruvathin Vasalile
	Pennukku Yaar Kaaval
	Pollathavan
	Ponnagaram
	Porkalam
	Pudiya Thoranangal
	Rishi Moolam
	Rusi Kanda Poonai
	Saranam Iyyappa
	Thani Maram
	Theru Vilakku
	Ullasa Paravaigal
	Valli Mayil
	Vandi Chakkaram
	Veli Thandiya Velladu
1981	Aadugal Nanaigindrana
	Anichamalar
	Kadavulin Theerpu
	Engamma Maharani
	Kannadi
	Kanni Mahamayi
	Kazhugu
	Lorry Driver Rajakkannu
	Oru Iravu Oru Paarvai
	Pennin Vaazhkkai
	Pennmanam Pesugirathu
	Ram Lakshman
	Sankarlal
	Satya Sundaram
	Vadagai Veedu
	Vasanthakalam
1982	Aval Yetriya Dheebangal
	Hitler Umanath
	Iniyavale Vaa
	Irattai Manithan
	Muraiponnu
	Nayakarin Magal
	Nirandharam
	Oorukku Oru Pillai
	Pannaiburathu Pandavargal
	Sangili
1983	Avaloru Kaviyam
	Kashmir Kadhali
	Oppandham
	Samsaram Enbathu Veenai
1984	Pillayar

References

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